The Washington critic., 1887-07-15
OUR POSTAL SYSTEM.
Conflicts of Authority Between Par
lament and The Colonies.
EARLY RATES OF POSTAGE.
Mr.. Knights Second and Con-
Guiding Paper on the Subject.

In that province, three of which are at
present within the limits of the State of
Maine, appointed a postmaster at each
office and committee to fix the COM
pensation of the postmasturs and fixed
the following rates Of POSTAGE A letter
conveyed not exceeding 60 miles, 81
pence; over 60 and not exceeding 100
miles, 8 pence; over 100 and not ex.
ceeding 200 miles, 10i pence; over 200
and not exceeding 800 miles, shilling
pence; over 800 and not exceeding 400
miles, 1 shilling 4pencc; over 400 and
not exceeding 500 miles, shilling 81
pence; over 900 and not exceeding 600
miles, l shilling D pence; over 600 and
not exceeding 700 miles, 9 shillings;
over 200 and not exceeding 800 miles, 9
shillings 81 pence; over 800 and not ex.
ceeding 900 miles, 2 shillings pence;
over 900 and not exceeding 900 miles,
2 shillings pence. The foregoing
rates were for single letters. Double
letter chat Is, two pieces of paper),
were charged double rates; treble,
treble rates, and for letters one ounce
In weight four times rs much as for a
single letter.
TWAS provided that these rates should
continue in force "unti the Continental
Congress, or the Congress, or future
House of Representatives of this Col
ony" should make further orders. BY
act of July 8, 1715, all letters to persons
belonging to the Continental army, or
from them stationed in Massachusetts,,
were delivered free.
July 90, 1i75, the Continental Con-
gress ordered that Postmaster General
be appointed, and DIR. Franklin was
again placed ut the head of the postal
service, and the rates of postage were
fixed at 90 per cent less than those of
the Parliamentary post. October II,
1E7, these rates were increased 80 per
cent.
CONFLICTS OF AUTHORITY.
December II, 177j, the General As.
sembly of the Province of Maryland,
in session at Annapolis, passed the fol.
lowing:
ReSO'rei That the Parliamentary post be
not permitted or suffered to travel In or pass
through this Province wi h any mail packages
or letters, and the several committees of OBJ
servation are requested and directed to sec
tlis resolution strictly observed and exc
Cuted
On the a5ih of the same month the
following retaliatory order was issued:
GENERAL PosTorrrcE,
New York Cry,
Whereas, The Provincial Convention at An
napolis has passed II resolve 'That the Par
iiamentary Post tas they are pleased to term
in or pass through the Province with any mail
package or letters;" and In consequence of
that resolve have taken His Majesty's mail
from the postoflice at Baltimore with letters
contained therein; the committee at Philadel.
phia having also taken mall containing all
the last packet letters to the southward,
opened many of them: to the great hurt OF in-
their intention of stopping all others for the
future; and other OF ills Majesty's mail hav.
ing been taken and DISTRACTED, notice Is
Pos stmaster General Is Obliged for the present
to stop all the Posts. They are also hereby
desired TO take notice that, for the safety OF
the letters coming by The next or any future
names of those who shall have letters will bc
advertised that they may either apply them
selves or write TO friends IN this. city TO take
thom up An order In writing from the per-
son To whom any letters may be dire Ctcl
will be necessary.
TRiScrs DAsiiwoop, Secretary
Thus 1t will be seen that the conflict
of authority was very sharp and kept
up for some time, as DR.. Franklin had
at this time already established many
postOillces, aud they were in actual
operation, as very many of them ren.
dered their accounts to him for full
quarter, extending from October 6,
1i75, to January 9, 111G.
RATES OF POSTAGE.
October IS. 1iS2, the Continental
Congress established the following
rates of postage. AS they are not fixed
In lawful money some difficulty has
been experienced in determining the
actual amount. / copy from sheet
furnished by gentleman said TO be an
expert in such matters. The penny
weights and grains are as given In the
law. The reductions are by the gentle.
man referred to. The charges were
made in pennyweights and grains of
silver, each pennyweight being 500 of
dollar, or 8 10 cents For any distance
not exceeding 60 miles, ponnywelght,
s grains, or z 1877 cents; over 60 and
under 100 miles, = pennyweights, or
II 10 cents; over 100 and under 200
pennyweights, 10 grains, or II 99.27
cents, and 10 grains advance ON every
100 miles; for single letters to Europe
by packet, 4 pennyweights, or 90 3,0
cents; double rates for double letters.
s rennyweights, or Al 0 cents; triple
rates, II pennyweights, or GGG cents;
one ounce, rates, and so on In pro-
portion for increased weights. Ac.
Cording to the above rates the postage
on half ounce letter from Boston to
San Francisco would be S2.I
September Z, 1885, these rates were
somewhat modified and October 22,
were reduced as nearly 25 per cent. as
could be done. February 20, 1i02, the
following rates were established by law:
Every single letter and not exceeding
20 miles, q cents; over 30, and not eX'
ceeding GO miles, 9 cents; over go, and
not exceeding 100 miles, 10 cents, over
1OO miles and not exceeding 100 miles,
l2i cents; over 100, and not exceeding
eco miles, 10 cents; oyer 200, aud not
exceeding $50 miles, / cents; over 2jO,
and not exceeding $50 miles, 20 cents;
over 800, and not exceeding 45O miles
22 cents; over 400 miles by land, %
cents. Double letters, double rates;
triple letters, triple rates; every letter
weighing one ounce avoirdupois, four
times these rates, and in that proper
iiou for greater wcightg
March /, 1899, these rates of postage
underwent another change, TO wit;
Every letter composed Of single
sheet of paper, not exceeding 40 miles,
s cents; over 40, and not exceeding 30
miles, 10 cents; over 80, aud not eX.
ceeding 100 miles, 12I cents; over $50
miles and not exceeding 800 miles, Ii
cents; over 800, and not exceeding 500
miles, 20 cents; exceeding 500 miles,
% cents, Double letters, double
rates triple letters, triple rates. every
packet composed of 4 or more pieces
4 times these rates. This schedule was
Te enacted April 30, 1910, increased 80
per cent. December 90, 1914, aud the
L. i L =